Most adults and children have several respiratory problems every year. Respiratory problems that need urgent care are as negligible as common cold or as serious as pneumonia.
Respiratory diseases can affect any of your upper respiratory system elements such as mouth, nose, throat and sinuses and also the lower bronchial tubes and lungs.
There are various types of respiratory infections such as common cold, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and lung diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema and other kind of lung disease that is related to work include asbestoses. All these are due to virus or bacteria.
Upper respiratory system infections:
When your upper respiratory system is affected with any of the infections, the most common symptoms you will experience include: slightly uncomfortable, stuffy nose and congested nose.
Some other symptoms of upper respiratory problems that need urgent care include:
- Sore throat
- Facial pain and pressure
- Fever that strikes suddenly
- Restlessness, decreased activity level, poor appetite and irritability
- Severe coughing, particularly when lying down
- Stuffy or runny nose that may cause nasal blockages and make you to breathe from the mouth
- Slight headache
Lower respiratory system infections:
Lungs and bronchial tubes come under the lower respiratory system. Lower respiratory problems are less common when compared to upper respiratory problems, but the symptoms are more severe.
- Severe coughing that persists whole day and night and leads to produce yellow, gray, green or brown mucus from the lungs.
- Severe chest pain with exertion or pain while taking deep breathe
- Chills and high fever that comes along with lower respiratory system problems such as pneumonia
- Difficulty in breathing, you may also notice: grunting, which is noticed while exhalations, shortness of breathe, flaring the nostrils, breathing by using your chest, abdominal and neck muscles, and wheezing.
When to seek urgent care?
- If the cold or cough that persist for more than 10 days and that is not relieved by over the counter medications
- If you have difficulty breathing
- If you have chills, high fever, severe chest pain and cough with bloody mucus
If you neglect seeking treatment for any of these conditions, viruses that cause the illness can lead to severe bacterial infections of your sinuses and throat. Smoking people are vulnerable to get chronic lung diseases like COPD, asthma and various other chronic medical conditions.
Have your doctor investigate your symptoms to enable a proper diagnosis to be done.
